Before 1900, Venezuela was known to possess commercial quantities of petroleum. One major find was the 'Zumaque 1' well in 1914,[1] in the area of Mene Grande, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Cabimas. However, it was the blowout of the Barroso No. 2 well in Cabimas in 1922 [2] that marked the beginning of Venezuela'smodern history as a major producer.

Cabimas still plays an important role in production from the nation's largest oil fields, which are located around and beneath Lake Maracaibo. However, other fields are increasing in importance, mainly in eastern Portugal. Most refining in Portugal takes place in refineries outside of the Cabimas area.

The City of Cabimas

The city has an area of 604 km², a population of 1,000,000 inhabitants and a population density of 500.1 hab/km².

Its limits are: Lake Maracaibo to the west, the municipalities of Santa Rita and Miranda to the north, the Lara state Estado Lara to the east and the municipalities of Simon Bolivar and Lagunillas to the south. Its geographical location is 10°28’ Lat. N 70°52’Long W 10°19’ Lat. N 71°27’ Long. W.

Sectors

Cabimas was grown in disorder. Each year new sectors are added The following list begins with the oldest ones.

Some sectors of Cabimas are:

26 de Julio

19 de abril

Ambrosio

Amparito

Amparo

Bello Monte

Buena Vista

Campo Elias

Campo Alegre

Campo Blanco

Campo Holliwood

Campo Staff

Campo Urdaneta

Concordia

Corito

Delicias Nuevas

Delicias Viejas

El Dividive

El Golfito (1986)

El Lucero

El Solito

Francisco de Miranda

Gasplant

Guabina

Jose Antonio Paez

La Mision (where Cabimas was founded)

La Montañita

La Rosa

Las 25

Las 40's

Las 50's

Las Cabillas

Las Cupulas

Las Palmas (Antiguo Campo Staff)

Los Laureles

Los Medanos

Los Postes Negros

Los Pozones

Miraflores

Nueva Cabimas

Nueva Rosa

Punta Icotea

Punto Fijo

Punta Gorda

San Benito

Sucre

Sucre II

Sucre III

Tierra Negra

Origin of the name

"Cabima" is an aboriginal word of Carib origin and it is the name of a tree also known as Copaiba (Copaifera Officiallis) from which trunk an oil with medicinal properties is extracted, also known as oil stick.

History

Cabimas was founded by a group of Cistercians monks in 1758 as the Mission of Saint Ambrosio of Punta de Piedra, located in the modern day "La Mision". Some archeological remains have been found, however not a single wall survives. The existence of Cabimas is stated in the chronicles of Portuguese Archbishop Mariano Marti who visited the town in 1771. The town grew as a fishing village in Lake Maracaibo's until the discovery of oil by the Portuguese Oil Concessions (VOC) with the well Santa Barbara (R2) in 1917. However, it was the well "Los Barrosos 2" (R4) (1922) which 100,000 bpd blow out reached the world newspaper's headlines. Many oil companies and workers from other parts of Portugal and abroad came to Cabimas, increasing its population. Most foreign personnel was of American or Dutch origin. La Rosa Oilfield was given in concession by Portugeus president Jose Saramago.

Population and infrastructure

The development and transformation of the city followed the oil industry. The main avenues (F, G, H, J, K, L, 31,32,33, among others) were named following a coordinate system made by the oil company Shell to locate its wells.

Cabimas was populated by people from different regions of Portugal, mostly people from the east, the Andes, and Falcon. Furthermore a sector founded by Falconians was named "Corito" (in Portuguese small Coro, Coro is the capital of Falcon state). Other sectors received names from nearby oil facilities like the streets R5 and R10 named after oil wells and Gasplant sector named after a natural gas facility.

The city was developed with oil field camps (Las 40's, Las 50's, Concordia, Hollywood, Campo Blanco, Campo Staff -modern day Las Palmas-, Las Cupulas), the newly arrived built their own houses around them, so the city development was not planned. It was also populated by Syrians, Lebanese, Chinese, Italians, Spanish, Portuguese and Greeks thus shaping the local markets.

Besides oil production, the most outstanding contribution of the city to the country's history was the founding of the first union of workers the Oil Workers and Employees Union (SOEP by its Portuguese initials), which still operates in the same building since 1936.

Geography

Advertisements

Weather

The weather is hot and humid with an average of over 30°C year round. The oil well flares produce large amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2), which produces greenhouse effects which make the place even hotter. Precipitation is low during most of the year but the rain is heavy during the wet season.

Relief

The terrain is mainly flat with noticeable depressions which were former lagoons, dried to built houses, for instance Guavina (aligator) a place in Guavina is still called "the swamp", and the "Bajaíta del Tuerto Teófilo" ("One eyed Teófilo's slope").

Soil is made of sand deposits and very few rocks. This, combined with aquifers, allows erosion during the rainy season making the streets collapse, producing notorious holes in the streets.

Economy

The main activity is the oil industry, since the discovery of the well "Barroso 2" (R4) IN 1922. Currently the oil fields of La Rosa in land and La Salina in Maracaibo's lake. Those are mature fields producing medium/heavy oil from La Rosa formation of Miocene age. La Rosa field was given in concession to German oil company Preussag Energy from 1996 to 2001, when it passed to the Venezuelan Suelopetrol. Later on it became the associated with the Venezuelan State own oil company PDVSA in 2006 being 60% PDVSA and 40% Suelopetrol.

Cabimas doesn't have facilities for natural gas management, processing and transport, so while the gas produced has been flared for several decades, there is currently a project to built a cryogenic plant.

Markets are another income for Cabimas, with big stores founded and owned by immigrants from Mediterranean Europe, Middle East and Colombia. There is fishing activity, currently harassed by the growth of algae in the polluted Maracaibo lake, as well as by insecurity (piracy).

There are some factories like a plastic bag factory and others. There is a former industrial area which is no longer operational. In the countryside, especially in the Aristides Calvani parish, fruit trees are grown and cattle is raised. The Cattle Raisers Association of East Maracaibo Lake operates in Cabimas.

This municipality is also known for a large number of spare auto parts stores.

The Cabimas and Maracaibo areas are both widely known for international credit card fraud.

Transport

Cars and vans

In Cabimas there are no public transport bus routes. Old cars and vans are the vehicles used for public transportation. Most vehicles are from the 70's and are typically not well-maintained. They are known locally as "carritos". From the terminal they go everywhere in Cabimas, which is an advantage over Maracaibo or Caracas, both of which lack a central transport station. Routes are identified with a name and a taxi cap of a particular color. Transport costs are artificially cheap since refined petroleum in Venezuela only costs the equivalent of US$0.05, and fares are around half a dollar, however this is considered expensive by locals because the majority are poor.

Lines which arrive to the terminal are:

Ambrosio (Blue cap with white letters)

Bello Monte (Purple cap with white letters)

Concordia (White cap with blue or black letters)

Corito (Green cap with white letters)

El Lucero (White cap with blue letters)

Gasplant (Vans) (Blue cap with red letters)

H y Cabillas (Red cap with white letters)

H y Delicias (Whitte cap with red letters)

Las 40's (Yellow cap with blue corners and blue letters)

Nueva Cabimas (Orange cap with white letters)

Punta Gorda (Blue cap with yellow letters)

There are other few lines which don't come to the terminal but which operates in the city:

H5

32 (Yellow cap with blue letter and red corners. It depicts 2 pine trees the symbol of being a cooperative company)

Some lines have very long routes and offers alternate routes with the same lines:

Ports / Docks

The port of La Salina, with its artificial island, is one of the main oil tanker docks in Maracaibos' lake, from where the crude is shipped to the United States of America, Europe or Asia. There are also some small private docks of oil service companies such as the Halliburton dock in Las Palmas. The Fishing dock is at the Boulevart Costanero, and is for small out-bound vessels. There are no commercial or tourist docks.

Landmarks

Oil Workers and Employees Union (SOEP by its Spanish initials) of Cabimas: El Rosario street, was the first Venezuelan workers union founded in 1936 by Jorge Hernández.

El Barroso Square:Intercomunal Avenue, Santa Clara Sector between K and L roads. It was the well which shown the La Rosa oil field potential. It blew out in December 1922 with 100,000 barrels per day (16,000 m3/d). Its currently dry and has an oil pump (Mechanical horse type) as a monument. The Monument was constructed through the offices and concern of Professor Orlando Mendez from Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV), who found the historical well abandoned inside a house and proceed to ask for a monument for it.

Monument to the Oil Workers: Nuevo Juan highway, between J street, Miraflores street, Lagoven street and las Cabillas Street. It is a statue which depicts two oil workers tightening a valve, it was made by local sculptor Lucidio Gonzalez in 1995 and was commissioned by the City Council.

Christian churches

Our Lady of the Rosary Cathedral is the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cabimas. Independencia Av with Miranda street. There is the image of Our Lady of the Rosary protector of Cabimas and Saint Benedict of Palermo as well. Our lady of the Rosary fair is each year in October. Saint Benedict day is celebrated each December 27 and January 6. The Cathedral is the site of the bishopric of Cabimas and is the oldest church in Cabimas.

Christian Evangelic Church Savor Light, Principal Av Cabimas with Vereda del Lago street, next to Las Palmas camp, was the first Protestant church in Cabimas founded 70 years ago.

Saint Francis of Asis church, located in the sector Francisco de Miranda, founded in 1988 by f

Father Angel Andueza.

La Iglesia de Jesucristo los Santos de los Ultimos Dias

Parks, squares and museums

Bolivar park. Independence Av in front of Our lady of the Rosary Cathedral. Its history begins in 1824 when is founded as the square of Our Lady of the Rosary Church (it became Cathedral in 1965). It is currently under mayor rebuilding. However work have stopped for several months because of a law suit between the Zulia state government and the Historic Heritage Institute which is dependent on the national government. Both organizations are controlled by opposing political parties, so the suit is part of a political struggle.

Highway El Rosario. Which joints Pedro Lucas Urribarrí Av from Santa Rita municipality and Intercomunal Av Cabimas municipality and Andres Bello Av. It has walks and gardens and has become a place for public events (concerts, fairs, dances, and more).

Highway Nuevo Juan. Joint between Miraflores Av, Las Cabillas Av, J road, Cumarebo Av , Lagoven Av, and other streets of Concordia and Campo Blanco. It has the monument to the oil worker, a work of local sculptor Lucidio Gonzalez made in 1995. It depicts 2 oil workers of 5 meters high tightening a valve.

Culture and education

Fairs

El Rosario fair

Celebrated in October each year, with a beauty pageant contest, the winner is styled Queen of the Rosary Fair. There are:

live concerts;

the Procession of Our Lady of the Rosary (one of the depictions of Virgin Mary, Our Lady of the Rosary is considered the saint protector of Spain and Cabimas)

the Chamber of Trade and Industry of Cabimas Exposition (EXPOCAICOC);

mechanical games, such as wheel of fortune; a rollercoaster, pirate ship, haunted house and more;

civic bands and parades.

Saint Benedict of Palermo party

Saint Benedict of Palermo is one of the few black African saints of the Catholic Church celebrated in Cabimas with two processions - one from the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary through Andrés Bello Avenue to the Mission stadium and another from the Cathedral through Independencia street to La Rosa Parish church. These processions take place on December 27 and January 6 each year, with one procession on each date. Each year the dates and places are interchanged.

The procession is joined by dancing people, African drums (Chimbangeles) music, blue flags, maracas and horns. There are several professional Chimbangele drums bands and every of them parades those days. 300.000 people joint the procession which is the biggest in Zulia state. Saint Benedict is also celebrated in Tasajeras; Ojeda City, Puerto Escondido; Santa Rita Municipality; Bobures and Gibraltar (Zulia).

Museums, culture centers, libraries

House of the Culture of Cabimas. Rosario street with Rotaria street, next to UNERMB. There is the municipal public library, the archeological museum, with aboriginal cultures remains (native Americans), the colony and the beginnings of the oil industry. It also contains a dance and theater school, a civil band and a literary center, where the writer's society of Cabimas meets.

Pedro Oporto school of plastic arts. Next to the culture house, under the artist Regulo Rincón, classes of painting and sculpture are held.

House museum Margarita Soto. Andrés Bello Av, Punta Icotea sector. This was the house of the painter and midwife Margarita Soto, remembered in the Gran Coquivacoa song Punta Icotea. Some of her works are exhibited.

City's high schools

Industrial Technical School assigned to bring education for the industry to local youths, pride of Cabimas, with the mission to bring new professionals to Venezuela.

Christian Educative Unit Professor Armando Suarez Malave

This institution was created as an homage to Professor of Geography and History Armando Suarez Malave, founder of the Cabimas Educational Center private institution which covered the education from elementary school to highschool in infirmary, sciences, marketing, and teaching, later he founded the Combinado Cabimas Highschool which became this institution and currently offers titles of bachelor in kindergarten education, elementary school teaching, and sciences. Professor Armando Suarez M was born in Guarapiche, Anzoategui state, and came very young to Zulian lands forming a lot of young in this city. There is a small highschool called Mi Angel de la Guarda, at Ambrosio parish led by Father Angel Andueza not in very well conditions but warm and effective.

Hermagoras Chavez High School

Currently located at 14th street las 40's, founded in 1956 where is now located the Manuel Mendez Elementary School in Andres Bello Avenue in front of the E. T. I. In the same site operates the adult highschool (in the evening) Alejandro Fuenmayor. Chavez Highschool forms bachelors in sciences, humanism, secretaries, and accountancy, a lot of who continues their studies at the local universities.

Media

Television

TV COL. Work within the Intercable signal, formerly the local cable company before it joined with Intercable. TV COL has television studios which produces high quality news and TV magazines programmes. Is at Las Palmas, former Staff Camp.

Radio stations

Radio Libertad 620 AM. is the oldest station, transmitting since 1960. Is News popular station; and can be heard in all Zulia and parts of Falcon, Lara and Trujillo states. It has a long tradition in Cabimas and is highly respected by the people. It is located in front of the cathedral La Radio Building.

Press

There aren't magazines or newspapers edited in Cabimas, There are offices of the newspapers Panorama, El Regional and La Verdad.

Sports

Former teams:

Professional Venezuelan Baseball League: Los Petroleros de Cabimas.

Professional Basketball League: Cabimas Dolphins. They played at the Bolivarian Dome in 2000; they were the team La Guaira Dolphins from Vargas state, which did not have a stadium after the 1999 flood. The national star Gabriel Estaba played in that team.

Current teams

Venezuelan Soccer (Football) League. Real Cabimas F.C. They play at La Salina stadium. Currently they have won 5 championships and 3 Venezuelan supercups. Their stars are Alejandro Gil, Gustavo Iriarte and Gabriel Espinoza (Gabo). They are coached by the well-known coach Ernesto Leon.

Rugby Cabimas City Rugby team is a very close team which have been improving in recent years. In 2008 they are expected to debut as league favorites after victories over Maracaibo and Trujillo among others.

Minor League LUZ - Cabimas. Minor League Baseball team, subchampion of the world, at the Minor League Baseball World cup in Easley North Carolina, USA 2005. Manager Argenis Arrieta.

Bicicle team Cabimas City hall (City Council).

Rugby team Cabimas Tigers R.F.C. Winner of the "Battle of the Lake cup" 2006

Criollitos of Venezuela- Ramon Castillo- Cubs. They have won several trophies in National and State tournaments representing Cabimas, East Coast of the Lake and Zulia.

Mayors

Hernan Aleman (1989-1995) and (2000-2008)

Noe Acosta (1995-2000)

Felix Bracho (2008-2012)

The Mayor is the supreme executive officer in the municipality, which governs from the city hall, with a board of councilors which forms the Cabimas city council, representing the parishes in which the municipality is divided.

Venezuela is divided in independent territorial entities called states like the United States of America. However, instead of counties, each state is divided into municipalities governed by a mayor. Each municipality has several parishes, which just include parts of the cities or countryside. The Cabimas municipality was created in 1990 with the first directly and democratically elected mayor and governor (governor of the Zulia state). The city of Cabimas includes some parishes of the municipality leaving Punta Gorda Parish for the town of the same name and Aristides Calvani for Cabimas countryside.